Archive for 2011

UPDATE – The deadline for the new t-shirt contest is 8/7, so get your entries in!

We celebrated the launch of The Grand Theatre Vol. One with a t-shirt design contest that resulted in the fantastic new motel shirt. So we’ve decided to do it again for The Grand Theatre Vol. 2, but with a new wrinkle: this time, the design theme has to reflect one of the songs on Volume 2. All you have to do is:

• The band will select finalists and post them to Facebook for voting the second week of August

The winner will get an awesome prize package that includes tix to a show and a meet & greet with the band, some exclusive autographed merch and the joy of seeing his or her shirt printed and worn by rabid fans from coast to coast.

The Salt Lake Tribune
A-
“It is consistent, endlessly fun, and sounds great emanating from the opened sunroof of your car on a warm summer day, with a honky-tonk feel that still isn’t off-putting to those who say they hate country music.”Washington Post
“…continues the Old 97s’ long winning streak with the sort of cavalier excellence that makes the arduous sound easy.”

Rolling Stone
3 1/2 stars
“…places Rhett Miller’s articulate, off-the-cuff songs right between the composure of the control room and the looseness of the barroom.”

Paste Magazine
7.1
“The Olds are still finding new ways to mix the country they love with the pop they love even more, and the result is a dusty sound that’s nervous and coiled, never laconic or casual like so many other Lone Star acts.”

USA Today
3 out of 4 stars
“As good as Miller’s songs are, guitarist Ken Bethea is the real attention-grabber, with a style that’s part trucker twang, part psychedelic garage, with a touch of surf-rock on instrumental ‘Marquita’.”

Old 97′s are proud to release The Grand Theatre Vol. 2, their ninth studio album, today via New West Records. TGTV2 features 13 brand new songs and is once again produced by Salim Nourallah (The Grand Theatre Volume One and Blame It On Gravity.)

You can listen to “You Call It Rain” and the rest of The Grand Theatre Vol. 2 streaming on kxt.org. And you can get your own copy on July 5th!

JEFF: “You Call It Rain” is a surprising end to an outstanding album, a light-hearted, buoyant little tune about being happy wherever you are, whatever life throws at you. You could dig into it for some deep metaphors about the band — when you’ve got four guys who’ve stuck together for almost two decades, against all odds, making great music and being happy with their lot in life when many in their shoes would be bitter about Fame being such a fickle flirt. But what’s the point. Search for meaning if you must. I’m going back to track one, cranking it up, and enjoying the ride. In the end, the work speaks for itself, and Fame knows where she can go.

KEN:* …the best amp story has to do with this little amp called a Newcome that was at the studio. It’s probably from the 40’s or early 50’s and it’s tiny. Like, 5 watts and a 4″ speaker. It really sounded like crap but it looked really cool. I kept tinkering with it, trying to make it not suck. At some point I plugged in a little 7-channel Boss EQ and EQ’d it kind of weird (I put the ones on the end and the one in the middle all the way up, and the others all the way down.) As soon as I started playing it I knew it I had struck gold. I was making a little “auto-wah” sound that Philip came running in and said it sounded like a duck. So it became known as the “duck amp.” You can hear it on “You Call It Rain” on Volume 2. It’s hot.

STEPHANIE: You’d think I’d know by now that when an Old 97’s song sounds kind of happy, I should be suspicious. Nope. Even though I was bummed that it was the last song on the disc, this song seemed delightful. Right?

In my brain video, the woman is in the driver’s seat because at least metaphorically, she usually is. She’s pretty ticked off because of the timing of this storm. They have a THING to get to! Mr. Optimist in the passenger seat is kind of irritating, and he’s trying to make her laugh.

Second verse, I imagine that she’s warming up a little. She lets him put the radio on, maybe cracks a smile at the poor bastard.

When we get to that last verse; however, it seems that he may have had some ‘splainin’ to do. Of course, he’s still trying to win her (back) over (to the way it was way back when) with a cheeky wink and poke in the ribs.

Okay, maybe it’s not as dark as a jaunty 97’s song could be, but it’s definitely more interesting than a typical poppy love song. Another favorite. Who am I kidding? I have about six favorite songs on this album! After several listens in the last two weeks, this album is in my top three of all of their albums. The cumulative talent of the guys shines throughout the album. Like a fine wine, baby…

Looking very forward to my next 97’s show so I can sing along to all of my new favorites. Maybe they can just add 45 minutes to their typical set and add this album in its entirety? Too much to ask? Whether they honor this request or not, I am one happy wrecker with thirteen new tunes that have exceeded my high expectations. Thanks, Old 97’s, for another amazing album. How do you do it?!

MARIE: “You Call It Rain” just plain makes me happy. Hearing Ken’s four opening notes with Philip’s kicky, stick raps, immediately produces an enormous ear-to-ear smile across my face. In signature 97’s fashion, this buoyant, head-bopping melody is the perfect foil to the layered, not-quite-as-happy-as-it-sounds lyrics. A sudden cloudburst is the perfect excuse for our protagonist to be happily trapped in the car in the company of his special girl.

We can make due
Make time while the radio plays a song
Wait out the rain
Although I hope it goes on and on
Right now is a pretty good time

Is he merely trying to placate her dampened mood with his contagious optimism, or is he attempting to make amends for some past transgression?

I believe we all call the shots
We all write the plots
I believe love finds a way
What did you expect me to say?

You call it too late
I call it a chance at a second wind
We can go back
Way back to the way it was way back when
Right now is a pretty good time

With a lighthearted, breezy tone, “You Call It Rain” is the perfect final act before the curtain drops on the Grand Theatre. Like a finely crafted musical, Volume 2 ends with a catchy, crowd-pleasing earworm that will have the audience singing all the way home.

I didn’t think it was possible to outdo Volume One, but damned if our favorite foursome hasn’t done just that. This thing is incredible The perfect follow up to the musical force that is Volume One. I LOVE this album start to finish. From the first listen, it caught me in its spell and I’m drawn in further with each subsequent spin.

Rhett has been quoted as saying Volume One is epistolary, a series of letters back and forth. I would suggest Volume Two is more a collection of short stories, vignettes of the human condition fraught with themes of unattainable love, lamentation and a wee bit of loathing, all cleverly masked under irresistible, upbeat melodies that defy one’s body to stand still. I’ve lived with this CD for two weeks, and there’s no sign of it coming out of my player any time soon.

Back-to-back albums filled to the brim with future favorites and a touring schedule that goes on well into 2012… Right now IS a pretty darn good time to be an Old 97’s fan.

Volume 2 drops tomorrow, and the fun picks up again on July 7th. See you on the road!

Something a little different for this month’s New Music Monday — the first track from The Grand Theatre Vol. 2, “Brown Haired Daughter.” Some of you were able to download this one on Facebook, but there were some technical difficulties over there. So now it’s up on the media page for everyone. Go, help yourself, tell your friends, and get ready for the rest of the album in just one short day.

You can listen to “How Lovely It All Was” and the rest of The Grand Theatre Vol. 2 streaming on kxt.org.

MURRY: This is a goodbye to a friend that passed away in 2006. It was one of those sad stories — his heart was weakened because of his drug abuse, and his heart failure happened after he had sobered up. The damage was done, and he left us. His name was Alex Magosci. He had been the music editor at the Observer for a couple years, the exact years being lost in my memory. I knew him because when I had to leave home his mother gave me my first job. Alex and I became friends and I took him to his first “underground gig” in Deep Ellum, which was the hardcore punk band Gang Green from Boston at the old Liberty Hall. He was a talented drummer, and I tried to do a band with him for a time when we all lived in New Mexico, but ended up producing Rhett’s first CD and deepening my involvement with Rhett and putting everything else on the backburner, including my band with Alex. It was hard to hear of his passing, especially the way he went, and I wrote a song about how it felt to get the news and how it was to move on.

STEPHANIE: “How Lovely All It Was” is an exquisite farewell song. Murry’s wistful vocals offer a tribute that is both sad and soothing. Before Murry shared who this song was about, I knew that this was not a meaningless collection of words that rhymed. The bittersweet lyrics and their delicate accompaniment were clearly born out of a grieving heart. Everyone can relate to this in some way as we all have, or will say goodbye to someone that we love. The best part of this song, in my opinion, is the comfort of the last verse.

The sun moves up and on, and so must we my friend
How lovely all it was, how lovely all it was

Moving on can feel like impossible betrayal at the peak of mourning, but that simple titular lyric says that this beautiful life and friendship will not be forgotten, even as the unbearable pain fades away.

MARIE:

If I don’t see you again this way tomorrow
And my body doesn’t break under the sorrow I swallow
I’ll see you alone tomorrow
by and by

I have two words for this song: Achingly Beautiful.

Before I read Murry’s story behind the song, I thought “How Lovely All It Was” was about moving forward after the bittersweet resignation to the end of a long-term relationship with a woman who will forever occupy a corner of his heart. Knowing it’s about the unexpected death of a long-time friend makes this even more heartbreaking. Stephanie’s review says it all far more eloquently than I can. I will only say every aspect of this song is gorgeous. Well done, Murry.

JEFF: And out of left field comes the Murry song I can’t stop listening to. Cindy described this as “the Murry song that doesn’t sound like a Murry song” and we both agreed it’s a highlight on the album. It doesn’t sound like an Old 97’s song, necessarily, either. But it fits the recurring theme of sadness expressed in a non-sad way, and the breezy harmonies and jangly acoustics carry an undeniable weight. There’s a timeless air to it, a sense that maybe it’s a cover of some obscure 60’s song from a California band that tragically broke up before they ever broke out.

You can listen to the full-band version of “Visiting Hours” and the rest of The Grand Theatre Vol. 2 streaming on kxt.org.

MARIE: Visiting Hours is the remake I’ve been most looking forward to hearing. I’m late to the Ranchero Brothers party, but from the minute I heard them play it on a YouTube video from one of the Christmas show at Sons of Herman Hall in 2009, I instantly took to this clever, old-school tale of drunken, youthful obsession and the bad decisions it inspires.

Happy Hour is almost over
Hope I can walk on my own power
I find your house/ I break your window/ I crash your bedroooooom
These are the visiting hours

One of my favorites from an album that is fraught with them, this retelling has a faster, juicier Old 97’s stamp on it than the original. And boy, does it NOT disappoint. It’s fantastic! The quicker cadence lends a welcomed level of recklessness to this shot and Shiner Bock of a tune. It’s yet another song by which I torture my coworkers with my constant humming. Clearly they suffer my love of all things Old 97’s. Ha Ha!

I live far from Texas, so chances are high I’ll never be treated to a Ranchero’s show (insert sad face here) that is, unless Paco and Flaco decide to hit the road in their down time. I know a great little place in Western PA that would be perfect por los Hermanos Rancheros. Just sayin’…

JEFF: The first time I saw the full track listing for TGTV2, I knew there’d be at least one song I’d love. (Aw, who’m I kidding, I knew there would be more than one, but you know what I mean.) I’ve been a fan of this song for years, since I discovered it in my heavy Old 97’s/Ranchero Brothers bootleg phase back in the early oughts. “Visiting Hours” was one of the first songs I learned to play on the guitar. I think I’ve even done it at an open mic back in the day.

So, yeah. This is classic Old 97’s to me, and it’s déjà vu all over again — a Ranchero Brothers song is a highlight of TGTV2, just like “Champaign, Il” on TGTV1. (Side note: once again, you really have to marvel at that lost Ranchero Brothers album, and the endless parade of 5-star tracks it would have been. Sigh.)

“Visiting Hours” is another reason I think old school fans will love this album as much as new converts. Like “Ivy,” even if you haven’t heard it before, it fits right in with the band’s catalog. And it feels right at home here on TGTV2.

We’re just a few days away from the release of The Grand Theatre Vol. 2 on July 5th, and the excitement is starting to build. So every day between now and then, we’re going to reward your patience with a “first look” at a song from the album, with first impressions from Marie, Stephanie and myself. One or more of the boys will weigh in at times as well, so check back every day to learn what goodies are coming to those who wait.

You can listen to “Bright Spark (See What I Mean)” and the rest of The Grand Theatre Vol. 2 streaming on kxt.org.

MARIE: Charging out of the gate on the heels of a driving jungle beat, “Bright Spark” tells the tale of man adrift in an impossibly dismal, sunless world. Trapped in his own dreary state of mind, he’s just going through the motions of his bleak existence until the day he meets the one, his spark who delivers him from his monotony. She’s a beacon whose very presence restores bright hues to his dull, gray life.

It’s a big ole mess of brick and stone
Was a nightmare when I was on my own
Yeah she showed up and it’s okay
Now I don’t mind if the sky is gray
The rain falls down on this dirty old town
She’s the only shine I see
See what I mean

Hooray for love!! As one who is lucky enough to have found her True North, I get this. How the universe is sweeter knowing he’ll walk through the door, filling my heart with that big, warm smile of his, dissolving all the crap of the day.

But wait, don’t think for a minute the 97’s have gone all soft and gooey with a love-conquers-all number. This ode to love comes wrapped in a hard-driving, thunderous rock anthem and a growl. Just the way this wrecker likes it.

My husband and I were treated to a premiere performance of “Bright Spark” in 2009 during the CF Concert at the Granada shortly after Rhett’s month-long European tour with Steve Earle. I respectfully kept this under wraps for two years. It’s nice to be able to share it now that the 97’s have recorded it. The tempo and tone have changed some and there’s a slight tweak to the third verse, but other than that it has remained the same. I liked it then. I really like it now.

STEPHANIE: For forty hours every week, I put on my business casual costume and sit in a windowless office where I stare at a monitor under fluorescent lights. Why would I do that? Because “man can’t live on love alone.” It’s called work for a reason and at some point, the daily grind gets the best of all of us. Even the seemingly glamorous job of rocking out for adoring fans will occasionally chip away at the spirit of a touring musician.

We all do the thousand yard stare
Shuffling around ain’t goin’ nowhere
Crowds roll in, and they do it again
Nothing’s gonna break this routine
See what I mean?!

What’s the point of going on? Love, love, love.

Here she comes my girl
Bright spark in a dark world

The chorus seems to share the cadence and sentiment of Tom Petty’s “Here Comes My Girl.” Unlike Petty’s brilliant but mellow classic, “Bright Spark” is a powerhouse from start to finish.

As a part-time girly-girl, I can be a sap for a sweet, melodic love song, but this love song is gritty and exciting, appealing to my inner rocker-chick. Love is life-affirming and sometimes a sweet melody isn’t enough to convey it’s power over the oppressive doldrums of existence. “Bright Spark” will become a Friday afternoon staple, pouring into my head through earbuds like an IV delivering the healing promise of a weekend with the one I love.

JEFF: Ten tracks in and it’s time to remind everyone just how important Philip remains to these affairs. It’s about love. It’s a metaphor for the irresistible, inevitable need to rock. It’s like Buddy Holly drank too much mescal and passed out behind Gruene Hall, then woke up and stumbled down to the river to find the sun-kissed sorority girl of his dreams tubing by with an ice chest full of Lonestar tallboys. “Bright Spark,” indeed.